All Specialist retailer articles
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Interview
Interview: Ann Summers bosses Maria Hollins and Vanessa Gold on getting their edge back
At the helm of one of the UK’s most controversial brands, Maria Hollins and Vanessa Gold talk to Retail Week about rediscovering its purpose and mixing business with pleasure
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News
Ann Summers boss admits: ‘We’d gone a bit vanilla’
The chief executive of Ann Summers has admitted the business had “gone a bit vanilla” and lost its edge, as the retailer looks to return to its roots in 2025.
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News
HMV has promoted two people in newly created roles
HMV has promoted two staff members for newly created roles following the departure of the retailer’s marketing and commercial director.
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Analysis
Claws out: how do prices compare at Pets at Home and competitor Jollyes?
The claws are out between petcare market leader Pets at Home and its fast-growing competitor Jollyes as both announce new approaches to their pricing. But which is cheaper?
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News
Jollyes sales soar as it embarks everyday low pricing model
Jollyes has posted strong Christmas trading results alongside a new commitment to shun loyalty prices for a new everyday-low-pricing model.
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Feature
Retail’s 101 favourite stores as chosen by the bosses of M&S, John Lewis, Ikea, Boots and more
From hometown heroes to international inspiration, we asked retailer leaders, commentators and our journalists to name their favourite store in the world. The result is 101 stores that show bricks-and-mortar retail at its very best.
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News
Budget is hurting part-time workers and women, warns Pets at Home boss
The boss of Pets at Home has said the changes to national insurance set out in the budget are damaging opportunities for “young, flexible workers”, part-time workers and women.
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News
ProCook sales have soared as Black Friday and Christmas campaigns pay off
ProCook has reported a “strong peak trading performance” as its focus on Black Friday and Christmas offers, product ranges and inventory levels paid off.
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Data
The Christmas trading 2024 retail league table
Find out how retailers fared during the critical 2024/25 Christmas trading period with our league table benchmarking sales performance across the industry.
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News
ProCook sales have jumped as Christmas trading momentum picks up
ProCook has said trading momentum has picked up and posted an increase in first-half sales during a strong golden quarter.
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News
Naked Wines has narrowed its losses and said its turnaround plan is working
Naked Wines has insisted it’s in a “better position” as it narrowed its losses for the first half of its financial year.
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News
Mothercare sales slip as it swings to loss
Mothercare has posted falling sales and sliding profits as it swings to a loss during the first half.
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News
Cotswold Co has opened a shop-in-shop point inside Peter Jones ahead of its revamp
The Cotswold Company is partnering with John Lewis to launch a range in Peter Jones ahead of its ‘world flagship’ transformation.
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Article
Pets at Home boss: we must look at ‘every lever’ to mitigate budget costs
Pets at Home boss Lyssa McGowan told Retail Week that the business would have to consider “every lever” as it looks to mitigate new costs imposed on retail by the Budget.
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News
Pets at Home reveals Budget costs hit and lowers profit guidance in ‘subdued’ market
Pets at Home has disclosed the additional cost burden it must bear following the recent Budget and lowered profit expectations amid difficult trading conditions.
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Retail Navigator Analysis
Halfords (Financials)
Halfords total sales increased 7.6% year on year to £1,712.8m for the year to 29 March 2024 (FY2023) against a restated FY2022 total of £1,591.8m. It said: “Our focus in FY24 [FY2023] has been to deliver on the areas that are within our control. We have made good progress both strategically and in further optimising the business to create a solid foundation for future growth. Business performance has, however, been impacted by continuing declines in the consumer tyres and cycling markets, and in consumer demand for big ticket purchases.”
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News
Ann Summers owners are exploring potential sale options
The Gold family, which owns Ann Summers, is exploring options for the business that could include a partial or majority sale.
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News
HMV is expanding into books with a standalone offering at its Oxford Street flagship
HMV is expanding into the sale of books to create its first standalone offering at its Oxford Street flagship before potentially rolling this out to all of its UK stores.
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News
Richer Sounds has partnered with Just Eat for on-demand delivery
Audio and tech retailer Richer Sounds has become the latest partner of delivery platform Just Eat, offering rapid delivery of electronics.
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Feature
Second chances: will hiring ex-offenders ever be mainstream in retail?
Multiple high street retailers are scaling up recruitment programmes that proactively recruit from the pool of 14 million people in the UK with a criminal record.